The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-02-03
fro BE Continued
Pension statistics.


Pension statistics.
Washington correspondence. The
Pension Appropriation bill which the
House has sent to the Senate amounts
to over 76 millions (S76. "a ,5OO). It
is larger even than the one passed by
the House last year. although that was
sl5. 100000 greater than the appropri-
alton Of the year before. Yet it is a
routine measure, designed to meet only
expenditures made necessary under ex-
isting laws. At the last session five or
six millions year were added to the
cost of pensions in bills that were pass
ed by Congress and approved by the
President.
The Civil War was over by June 30.
1865. If we dividethe periodof twenty
one years that has since elapsed up to
June 80, 1886, into three portions OF
seven years each. we shall find that
during the first portion the disburse-
ments on account ofpensions aggregated
*175. 541 1855, or an average in round
numbers of about $50, 100000 year.
In the second portion the pension pay
ments aggregated $207, OlS.s53. or an
average Of about 500, 800. OOOa year. In
the third portion they aggregated $4lo.-
LAG. 845. or nearly x6O.uOO.OoO year.
Here. then. we find that although as
the War recedcs its survivors have been
constantly decreasing in number by
death, during the last Of these three pc
RODS the cost of pensions was more
than double that of the first period, and
nearly double that Of the second. II
may be said that not till after the first
seven years succeeding the War could
the pension-list be fully made up and
put in operation. This is true: but
fourteen years ought to have been long
enough to establish it: yet while the
second period Of seven years Increased
the pension expenditures less than $32,-
900, 900 in the aggregate the third pc
Rod increased them more than $685.
OVUsOOO dUONC NHV SNSohus
If, also, we consider the current fiscal
year, for which appropriations were
made last spring, and the next fiscal
year, for which the House has just passed
bill. to be the beginning Of a fourth
period, we shall find it starting out on
a still higher scale; for, although the
disbursements are likely to be within
the appropriations, the fact that these
last will average more than $75, 900. OOl
each is significant.
The experience of this country. un
like that Of all others, is. that its Wal
| pension burdens had become vastl,
greater than ever fifteen or twenty year.
after the close of the hostilities OF
which they were based. This fac
is to be accounted for Ill various ways
The tables in Commissioner Black
last report show a >teady yearly increase
in disbursement up to 1871. through thu
favortble decision on pending applies,
tons for pensions and the adding O
names to the list. At that time th.
wears disbursement reached s53.O.77.
3S3. This amount accustomed goot
deal of talk, but it was considered higl
water mark. The following Year tn.
payment fell off to $3o.O69.341. tn.
year succeeding to S29. ls5. 200. b,
1876 they had got down to s2S,35l 500
and two wears later to $40. S44.41J. Tha
was the natural order Of decrease cor
responding to the experience Of al
countries.
But there the tide turned. During
the Hayes Administration the arrear
scheme was brought up. and was rush
ed through Congress. Hayes signed it
and from that moment the chang,
came. The year following the expen
ditures jumped to S32,7sO.527. Tw.
years later they We're 500. 626.548: twt
years later still, 500. 49,, 973: and Sc
the new standard Of expenses came in
Commissioner Black has said that tn,
cost of the Arrears act of the Have
Administration had been fully xl79.
100000 up to July /. 1885.
1t may be asked why, with this eA
penditure out Of the way, the pension
burdens are still increasing? The trutl
is that the Arrears act is not out Of tn
way. Its additional estimated cost
reckoned onward from July l, 1885.
to be $50. 100000, or $259,000.0O il
all. And yet there is now proposition
before Congress. strongly supported. t
make another arrears act, which woul
cost at least $246, 900. 600 add .tional
Almost more startling are the scheme
to greatly increase the rates of all pen
sions. The first great step in thi
direction was taken at the last session
when Congress passed and the Presiden
signed bill adding so per cent, as
pure gratuity, to more than 10000
pensions above the rate established Of
them for more than twenty years. Thi
alone will cost $6O,OOo,OOO to 81, 1000
600. There is no apparent reason VIII
every other pension of 500 a year shoul
not be increased to $l44, and the
doubled to 1888. The old standards
established long ago, being once Sc
aside, we might have an annual pensio
appropriation of 800, 100000 or $3.50
100000 a year, by gradual increases
and by making entirely new classes &
persons reasonable, as during the las
ten years.
The M0ther-in-Law In New Britain.
Mr. II Hactipr- Rnp,;ll,y /tbo na,